Investing in the security of your multifamily property is one of the best ways to boost its appeal for prospective and current residents. By their very nature, MDU (multi-dwelling unit) properties like apartments and student housing put residents in close proximity to people they don’t know, with frequent foot traffic just outside their doors. In such an environment, residents need to know that their safety is a genuine priority.
Luckily, there’s never been a better time to invest in the safety and security of your property. Advances in MDU security technology are helping property owners and managers enhance safety and bring peace of mind to their residents. Here, we explore some of the leading technologies available on the market today as well as best practices for implementing these solutions.
The Importance of Apartment Security
Security will naturally be on your residents’ minds at every stage of their rental journey. Given that 46% of multifamily properties reported an increase in crime in 2024, that’s not likely to change any time soon. For some residents, just feeling unsafe at a property could be enough for them not to renew when their lease is up — and a crime occurring in the vicinity could even cause some residents to break their leases early.
Multifamily properties are prone to multiple security threats, including:
- Illegal entry: This could range from teenagers hopping your gate to use your pool in the summer to unhoused individuals loitering on your property.
- Burglary: In addition to preventing apartment burglaries, securing your parking lot or garage plays a huge role in overall apartment safety and will help you attract and retain residents. After several years of steep increases, vehicle thefts declined by roughly 17% in 2024 compared to 2023. However, totals remain above pre-2020 levels.
- Drug and gang activity: The sale or use of illegal drugs on your property can make your residents uncomfortable at the least or fearful for their safety at the worst. Likewise, gang activity at apartment complexes and other multifamily properties presents a very real risk of residents becoming bystander victims of violent crimes.
When you stop and view these safety concerns through your residents’ eyes, the need for robust security on your property should be abundantly clear.
Apartment Security Tips for Landlords and Property Managers
Advancements in technology are helping landlords implement robust surveillance and security measures across their entire properties, from the pool to the lobby, parking lot or garage, and everywhere else you need to keep your staff and residents safe.
From implementing access control systems to motion-sensing lights, here are our top apartment security tips for property owners and management.
1. Conduct Security Audits and Risk Assessments
Before diving into the latest multifamily security solutions, it’s essential to start with the fundamentals. Ensuring the safety of your property is an ongoing task for you and your management staff, and you should be conducting regular security audits and risk assessments.
These typically involve the following procedures, at a minimum:
- Evaluating access control at every point of entry on your property
- Installing sources of backup power for your building’s security systems
- Checking that all alarms are functioning properly, and replacing any that are out of order
- Making sure that your surveillance systems are set up to retain security footage for the minimum period required by local laws
- Assessing the reliability and security of your building’s Wi-Fi network, ensuring it supports any internet-connected security systems and is protected from breaches
Taking ownership of your property’s security requires regular audits and assessments to manage evolving threats.
2. Integrate Access Control Systems
Access control systems are security systems that include keycards, biometric scans, or smart locks for managing access into units, amenity areas, and buildings. In view of the recent prevalence of cybersecurity breaches, systems that rely on older technologies or lack regular software updates actually pose an even bigger risk than using none at all.
A striking example of how easily criminals can exploit outdated technology include the 2023 MGM Resorts ransomware attack and the 1000% rise in Hyundai and Kia thefts between 2020 and 2023. This goes to show how quickly evolving technology — and even social media — can turn small vulnerabilities into large-scale security risks.
To maintain an effective access control system, it’s vital for property managers to follow these essential steps:
- Partner with a reliable access control vendor who offers regular updates and patches to stay ahead of potential security vulnerabilities.
- Opt for enterprise-grade solutions, such as those from reputable brands like Salto and Assa Abloy, which are designed specifically for multifamily environments with advanced protection.
- Ensure reliable internet connectivity with a robust Wi-Fi network to keep access control technology functioning properly; otherwise, if the internet is weak or unreliable, access control software may not update as needed, leaving the system exposed to potential hacks.
3. Install Surveillance Systems
After access control, surveillance systems are one of the most important ways that multifamily landlords can invest in the safety and security of their properties.
Installing surveillance solutions can help mitigate crime, assist law enforcement with their investigation if a crime does occur on your property, and can even carry insurance benefits — some companies offer lower premiums for properties with security cameras.
Whether your property houses general residents, students, military members and their families, or senior citizens, multifamily surveillance solutions offer essential features:
- Motion detectors that can pick up on unusual activity
- High-resolution video for crystal-clear surveillance footage
- Infrared night vision for high visibility in low-light conditions
- Tamper detection that alerts staff if anyone interferes with a camera
Whether you need something tamper-proof like a dome camera or you’re looking for the high-resolution capabilities of a varifocal lens camera, you have plenty of surveillance options at your disposal.
4. Ensure Proper Lighting and Visibility
Having a well lit property can make a large difference in your residents’ peace of mind. Not only is it more convenient for your residents, but a brightly lit space can help deter would-be trespassers. This can help limit instances of nighttime loitering to more serious crimes like burglary.
Making sure your entire property has sufficient lighting — and quickly replacing any bulbs that have gone out — is essential for helping your residents feel safe.
5. Emphasize Resident Education and Awareness
Another useful tip for maximizing safety at your property is to go the extra mile to educate your residents on residential security. Make them aware that their safety is your top priority, and give them a way to alert your staff of any suspicious or disruptive activity.
Let your residents know about the regular security audits and risk assessments you conduct at your property and welcome them to voice any security concerns they might have as part of these audits.
6. Outline Emergency Response Protocols
If you haven’t already, you should outline emergency response protocols for both your staff and residents in the event of several types of emergency situations:
- A fire has started in the building
- Your state or county has issued an evacuation order
- A panic button has been pushed by a resident or staff member
- A security breach or unauthorized access is detected
Outlining and practicing your responses to these events ahead of time can help everyone stay calm and conduct themselves safely if they occur. Just as importantly, it can provide vital peace of mind to your residents.
7. Partner With Local Law Enforcement
Do everything you can to build a relationship with your local police force. Consider scheduling periodic meetings or inviting them to community events to strengthen this partnership. This collaboration not only enhances their ability to respond effectively in case of an incident but also reassures your residents that their safety is a shared priority.
Get Your Property Ready for the Future of Apartment Security Technology
If you’re planning to upgrade your apartment’s security features, you’ll need to make sure your building’s cabling can support the latest technology. Security solutions like access control systems, security cameras, and panic buttons will be ineffective if built on outdated copper or coaxial systems.
As a foundation, it’s essential to install a network with a fiber-optic backbone, a special type of glass cabling that delivers a high-speed WiFi connection throughout your property. Compared to traditional cables, fiber-optic cabling has several advantages:
- Greater bandwidth: With fiber cabling, multiple systems can operate on your network without causing it to slow down. This is crucial for multifamily properties, which have high levels of network activity — residents using WiFi, staff using online systems for work, and so on.
- Much higher speed: Fiber-optic cables use light to transmit data far more rapidly than traditional cabling is capable of. This enables real-time property surveillance and security alerts, which are a critical piece of many new security tools.
- Enhanced scalability: Fiber-optic cabling allows you to plan for the future of security technology. Unlike older cables, fiber-optic cables don’t have to be extensively rewired to work with future technologies and system upgrades.
Structured fiber-optic cabling offers a significant advantage for property owners looking to stay ahead of the curve as security possibilities continue to evolve. A managed WiFi provider can assess your property to ensure it has the necessary cabling to support the newest security measures.
Don’t Put Apartment Security on the Back Burner
As an owner or property manager, it’s up to you to take ownership of your building’s security and the safety and well-being of your residents. From advanced access control systems to high-definition security cameras, motion-sensing lights, and more, properties have never had a greater wealth of safety measures at their disposal.
Looking to update your apartment security? Contact Touchstone 1 (formerly MDU Internet Services) today. We can help you find the right security systems, from access control systems to security cameras, that fit your property’s needs and budget and ensure your network is reliable and secure to support the latest technologies.